Matt Curley says yes to head coach job

Matt Curley said at his introductory press conference winning in Anchorage is possible.

"We can turn this program and start moving in a positive direction," said UAA's new hockey head coach

However, that's easier said than done.

The Seawolves won four games last season, their second-lowest total in program history. The 26 losses, the third most.

Matt Curley is the fourth candidate offered the job. The New York State native comes to UAA from Austria, where he spent the last three seasons as the head coach of the Red Bull Salzburg U20, a first division junior hockey team. Regardless of how and when we got here, its Curley's name next to the title of head coach.

"For whatever reason, it wasn't a good fit for them or their families. All that means to me is it opened the door and an opportunity for myself to come here," Curley said during Saturday's news conference at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Seawolves administration kept the search process very quiet before they hired Curley. UAA's interim athletics director says there's a good reason for that.

"Some people can't out themselves because they already got a job, right? I think as time has gone on, I think that's kind of important to give people that cover of confidentiality if they wanted to be a part of it," Tim McDiffett said.

One of Curley's big jobs will be to find players who want to be a part of his program.

"It's best to look first in the backyard and seeing what's at home first, and then start to explore," said Curley.

After all, he's beaten the odds. Matt Curley finds himself the head coach of a program but just a few weeks ago did not even consider him.